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No question that ABC is pulling out all the stops to save FlashForward. They threw an episode of the forgotten over the side to add a FlashForward clip show. And the March 18 FF return is two episodes back to back, that will be repeated again that Saturday. Seems like a reasonable use of their resources, because except for V which doesn’t return until late March, ABC has no other show who’s future is in much doubt.

I continue to like Castle’s renewal chances, its relative ratings improved enough from the beginning of the year to put it in a good position to return for next season.

There are just two shows on ABC’s “bubble” at this point.

FlashForward ratings need to bounce back from its fall lows (2.1 adults 18-49 rating) when it returns or it will be canceled.

V’s future entirely rests on how its ratings do on its return in March. Because its fall ratings are effectively meaningless now, I’ve colored the show orange in the table to indicate that its future is uncertain, based only on its spring ratings.

The Deep End has ended its “season” run and will certainly not be coming back.

Ugly Betty,Hank and Eastwick are already officially canceled, and the forgotten’s cancellation is a certainty. Lost is in its final season.

For shows in the Some Danger category only, I am including short term Index indicators for shows either with either improving or deteriorating 😳 Indexes, based on recent averages instead of season to date.

I’ve added a new category, Renewed For The 2010-11 Season, for shows who’s renewal has already been announced for the next season. It may take a while to get all the past announcements noted, let me know what I have missed, yet be patient.

This is a breakdown of ABC scripted shows and their renewal and cancellation prospects. Here are links to the other networks:

The Renew/Cancel Index is a show’s Season To Date adults 18-49 rating divided by its network’s Season to Date average 18-49 rating. If a show’s season to date 18-49 ratings average equalled its network’s 18-49 average, the show would have an Index of 1.00. Without special factors, scripted shows that were more than 10% below their network’s average are typically canceled by the end of the broadcast primetime season.

Factors that could cause a show to be renewed with a well below average Index:

(F) -Fridays: Shows airing on Fridays have been renewed with significantly lower than average Indexes.

(T) – Third Party: Shows that have a portion of their cost underwritten by a 3rd party can be renewed with substantially lower ratings.

(P) – Produced by the network’s production company – For shows on the bubble, being produced by the network’s corporate production company can be a survival advantage. For real losers, it’s unlikely to help.